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The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights
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Five cases of death in police stations




(Who is responsible?)



EOHR issues a report on cases of death in police stations which are
strongly suspected to have occurred as a result of severe torture

Despite statements by the Minister of Interior and other officials
asserting their concern for improving relations between the police
and citizens, reality seems to prove otherwise. Violations are still
widespread in police stations according to reports documented by the
Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) and other human rights
organizations in Egypt as part of their ongoing campaigns against
torture and ill-treatment of citizens in police stations.

EOHR regrets to inform that, in the period between February to July
1999, it monitored five cases of death in police stations. The
organization strongly suspects that the deaths may have been the
result of severe torture. The investigations carried out by the
organization found evidence that the victims were subjected to
torture by the police.

The main premise of EOHR's report is that torture is not merely a
practice that violates the dignity of the victim, but a tragedy that
deprives victims of their right to life. This report focuses on the
following victims of torture

1.  Sa'eed Sayid Abdel-Aal Salim, aged 27, worker, died on 17 April
1999 in El-Omraneya police station, Giza.

2.  Ahmed Mahmoud Mohamed Tammam, aged 19, high school student, died
on 21 July 1999 also in El-Omraneya police station.

3.  Hany Kamal Shawky, aged 22, first-year student at the Faculty of
Commerce of Shebeen El-Koum, died on 21 April 1999 in El-Azbakeya
police station, Cairo.

4.  Hamdy Ahmed Mohamed Askar, aged 42, cook, died on 16 February
1999 in Al-Mansoura General Hospital, where he had been transferred
from Mansoura I police station.

5.  Amr Salim Mohamed, aged 18, butcher, died on 17 July 1999 in
El-Khosous police station, El-Khanka, Kalyoubeya governorate.

Aware of the seriousness of the matter, EOHR, in the name of the
families of the deceased, refers this report "To whom it may
concern", and asks"Who is responsible?" How is it possible that a
citizen enters a police station alive and later the family receives
his body from some hospital morgue? Therefore, on the basis of the
provisions of the Egyptian Constitution and human rights standards
which prohibit torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment, EOHR calls for investigations into the events included in
this report. It also warns against irresponsible practices by
policemen which threaten human rights and social peace in Egypt. The
organization issues a strong appeal to the Egyptian authorities to
commit to the statements made by officials to respect human rights,
to end torture and ill-treatment in police stations, and to take the
necessary legal and practical measures to prevent these practices.
EOHR calls on all active forces of Egyptian civil society to join
efforts to secure respect for the life and dignity of Egyptian
citizens, to which torture is the most serious threat.

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Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR)
8/10 Mathaf El-Manyal Street, 10th Floor,
Manyal El-Roda, Cairo, Egypt

Telephone+20-(2)-363 68 11; +20-(2)-362 04 67
Facsimile+20-(2)-362 1613
E-Maileohr@link.com.eg or eohr@idsc.gov.eg
Home Pagehttp//www.eohr.org.eg 




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This document is published online by Derechos Human Rights. Derechos works against violations to human rights and humanitarian law all over the world.